Caster



L. C. ROGERS Oct. 10, 1939.

CASTER Filed April 2'7, 1938 L 5575? C POGEEJINVENTOR. BY W fbpw ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 1!), 1939 PATENT OFFICE.

OASTER Lester C. Rogers,

Cleveland, Ohio, assignor of one-half to Alex Gould, East Cleveland,

Ohio

Application April 27, 1938, Serial No. 204,652

4 Claims.

This invention relates to casters.

It is an object of this invention to provide casters constructed to embrace and be frictionally attached to the legs of refrigerators, furniture and the like.

A further object is to provide casters designed to frictionally embrace the legs of refrigerators, furniture and the like and adapted for application to legs of varying thickness.

A further object is to provide casters formed of sheet metal, characterized by simplicity of construction, low cost and ease of application and removal. Other objects of the invention will be come clear as the description thereof proceeds.

In the drawing forming part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a partial elevation of a lower corner of a refrigerator showing a caster of the invention applied to one leg of the refrigerator.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the caster shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the caster.

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

In the drawing, I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention as applied to a leg of a refrigerator. This illustration is illustrative only, it being understood that my novel caster may be applied to the legs of other articles as well.

In its preferred embodiment the caster is constructed of an attaching member designated in its entirety by the reference numeral It. This attaching member is preferably formed of sheet metal, such as sheet steel, fabricated so as to provide a base H, spaced upwardly extending flanges 12-42 and an upwardly extending flange l3 offset from the spaced flanges i2! 2. All of these flanges are preferably integral with the base ll of the attaching member.

It will be observed from the drawing that the flanges l2l2 and I3 are triangularly related so that the flanges 12-12 may be disposed in engagement with the outer face of the angular leg M of the refrigerator l5 and be conformed therewith. It will be understood, of course, that the contour of the flanges l2 -l2 may be modified in order to adapt them for engagement with legs of correspondingly varying contours and that these flanges may be finished so as to agree with the finish of the legs. In the described relationship between the flanges l2--l2 with the leg of the refrigerator the upstanding flange I3 is disposed inwardly and in spaced relation to the inner face of the leg I4.

In the application of my caster to a leg of a refrigerator or the like, the attaching member Iii of the caster is applied to the leg until the base H is engaged with the lower edge of the leg. In this position contact is obtained between the spaced flanges 12-42 and the outer face of the leg M. Thereupon the inner upstanding flange I3 is bent downwardly into engagement with the inner face of the angular leg it of the refrigerator, thereby securely and frictionally attaching the caster to the leg.

To the base ll of the attaching member I B there is secured a. roller l6, such attachment be- 15 ing effected by means of riveting or welding as desired.

It will be clear from the hereinb-efore described construction of my novel caster and of the mode of attachment thereof that it possesses an inherent adjustability by virtue of which it may be attached to legs of varying thickness without necessitating modification of the caster. It will be apparent, moreover, that should it be desired to remove a caster from a leg, such removal may be effected easily and quickly.

It will be apparent that numerous changes and modifications in the details of the invention will be clear to those skilled in the art. It is intended, therefore, that all such modifications and 5 changes be comprehended within this invention, which is to be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described coInprising a sheet metal member embodying a base, integral flanges extending upwardly from said base adapted to engage the outer face of a leg of a refrigerator or the like, and an integral flange initially extending upwardly from said base in spaced relation to said first mentioned flanges, said last mentioned flange being folded downwardly against the inner face of said leg subsequent to the application of said device to fasten said device to said leg, there being a roller secured to said base and extending downwardly therefrom.

2. A caster for refrigerators, furniture and the like comprising a base, a plurality of angularly related substantially vertical flanges extending r from said base, one of said initially vertical flanges being folded downwardly toward the remaining flange subsequent to the application of said caster to provide therewith frictional embracing means for securing said caster in position and a roller secured to and extending from said base.

3. A caster for refrigerators, furniture and the like comprising a base, a plurality of angularly related flanges extending upwardly from said base and a flange initially extending upwardly from said base disposed rearwardly of and substantially midway between said angularly related flanges, said last mentioned flange being folded downwardly toward said angularly related flanges subsequent to the application of said caster for the purpose set forth.

4. A device of the character described comprising a metallic member embodying a base, flanges extending upwardly from said base adapted to engage the outer face of a leg of a refrigerator or the like and a flange initially extending upwardly from said base in spaced relation to said first-mentioned flanges, said last-mentioned flange being folded downwardly against the inner face of said leg subsequent to the application of said device to fasten said device to said leg, said downwardly folded flange being bowed upwardly.

LESTER C. ROGERS. 

